Best festivals of 2025: Our pick of the year's most essential events

London Short Film Festival

Various locations, London

Programme: Short film screenings and events throughout the city

17-26 January

With over 50 programmes and events taking place over ten days in January, the London Short Film Festival spotlights the best of this year’s independent cinema, emerging filmmakers and new short films, alongside a curated events schedule focused on both the history of film and the industry today. Discussions will be anchored by this year’s theme, ‘Spaces’, exploring dedicated third spaces for creativity and culture – and what we lose when they close.

Bahidorá

Morelos, Mexico

Line-up: Ben UFO, Jeff Mills, Octo Octa b2b Eris Drew

14-16 February

Three days of good music in Mexico is a compelling prospect at any time of the year, but in February? Boutique festival Carnaval de Bahidorá is an underrated no-brainer for those looking to escape the last days of Winter. Held at Las Estacas park in Morelos, just a two-hour drive from Mexico City, the site sits right by the bright turquoise Yautepec River in a secluded location surrounded by nature. It all sounds blissful, but the line-up makes clear this is a festival that parties hard – think heavyweights like Ben UFO, Pearson Sound, Pangaea, Joy Orbison and Jeff Mills, alongside the likes of Logic1000, ISAbella, SoFTT and Octo Octa b2b Eris Drew.

AVA London

Various locations, London

Line-up: Erika de Casier, LSDXOXO, FKA twigs in conversation

20-22 March

AVA London’s three-day programme pairs all the gloss of an industry conference with great taste and a true understanding of how to put on a good party. Catch live shows and sets from Erika de Casier and Mechatok at Hackney’s EartH on Thursday, Ryoji Ikeda, Marcel Dettmann and EMA on Friday at HERE, and LSDXOXO on Saturday at The Cause. The daytime schedule also features live a conversation with FKA twigs, a mixing masterclass with Tom Elmhirst and much more.

Rewire

The Hague, Netherlands

Line-up: Nala Sinephro, Erika de Casier, Arooj Aftab

3-6 April

Every spring since 2011, a carefully considered yet creatively bananas line-up has convened in this seaside city for a weekend of cultural expansion – and that tradition continues in 2025. Among the cutting-edge highlights at this year’s Rewire are Arooj Aftab; Colin Stetson and Self, with their singular approaches to emotional catharsis; spectral post-rockers Moin; ambient jazz explorers Nala Sinephro and SML; drone queen Kali Malone with Stephen O’Malley; and a club-friendly thread that includes Two Shell, De Schurmann and DJ Plead b2b with Roxymore. We could go on…

BRDCST

Brussels, Belgium

Line-up: De Schuurman, Colin Stetson, International Anthem

4-6 April

Not just named after Trish Keenan’s retro-futurists, this Brussels event also channels that group’s spirit of experimentation. Its eighth edition brims with intrigue, as guest curators Anna von Hausswolff, Backxwash and Colin Stetson cast a brooding influence over a bill that features Tim Hecker, industrial art-punks Dame Area, Cairo producer El Kontessa, bubbling producer De Schuurman and avant-rockers Kassie Krut. International Anthem will also celebrate 11 years with shows from Ben LaMar Gay, SML and Jeremiah Chiu. What more do you need?

Sónar Lisboa

Lisbon, Portugal

Line-up: Bitter Babe, Modeselektor, Josh Caffé

11-13 April

Sónar Lisboa is once again setting the tone for festival season this spring with an adventurous, expansive programme that brings together forward-thinking electronic music from across the globe. Split across the more laid-back Sónar by Day (Saturday 12 April and Sunday 13), and the immersive Sónar by Night (Friday 11 and Saturday 12), shows will be held at Pavilhão Carlos Lopes (Parque Eduardo VII), with two additional open-air stages for the daytime. Highlights include Jeff Mills, Underworld, Josh Caffé, Modeselektor, ISAbella and Héctor Oaks, as well as stage takeovers from Dengo Club and Lisbon’s Enchufada, and a Principe x TraTraTrax link-up featuring Bitter Babe, DJ Lomalinda, DJ Firmeza b2b Nick León and more.

Horst

Asiat Park, Vilvoorde, Belgium

CCL & Objekt, gyrofield, Verraco, The Bug

1-3 May

Music and arts festival Horst is back this year with an expansive programme spanning architecture, installations, performances and more, with a focus on the themes of community, identity, ecology, and the democratisation of the dancefloor. Its summer exhibition is a highlight, as its extensive line-up of musical guests, from TraTraTrax’s Verraco to drum ‘n’ bass shapeshifter gyrofield, and link-ups between Hannah Holland & Josh Caffé, Helena Hauff & DJ Stingray 313, and CCL & Object. Expect to be moved by innovative stage design, immersive sound, and thought-provoking art.

FIGURA presents Seeing In Dreams

HERE at Outernet

Amnesia Scanner, Crystallmess, TAAHLIAH

9-10 May

Bringing the underground into sharper focus, FIGURA presents Seeing in Dreams – a night of radical soundscapes, experimental electronics, and dark club-ready frequencies. Berlin’s PAN will take over HERE at Outernet on the Friday with a line-up featuring Amnesia Scanner, Crystallmess, Heith, Ecco2K and more, while the Accidental Meetings roster will take the party nextdoor to The Lower Third. Saturday’s programme is similarly stacked, featuring Still House Plants, TAAHLIAH, and James Massiah’s album launch party.

GALA

Peckham Rye Park, London

Line-up: Avalon Emerson, Ben UFO, Theo Parrish, Anz, Floating Points

23-25 May

Having become a standout on any Londoner’s festival calendar, this year Peckham’s GALA celebrates its milestone 10th anniversary. Honouring its roots and growing community with a stacked line-up featuring Avalon Emerson, Ben UFO, Batu, Anz, HUNEE & Antal, HiTech and Pearson Sound, as well as a full weekend Floating Points stage takeover, an open-til-close set from Theo Parrish and much, much more, as ever, it’s not one to miss this summer.

Bloc Fest

Naples & Cilento, Italy

Line-up: Vegyn, Deena Abdelwahed, DJ Python

24 May, 20-21 June

Italy’s Bloc Fest is giving us three dates in two truly beautiful locations this summer, stopping first in Naples for an event hosted by cultural hub La Santissima in May, and then in UNESCO World Heritage area Cilento in June. With artists including Vegyn, DJ Python and John Talabot set to play in Cilento and Deena Abdelwahed, Nour, the Palestine Sound Archive and more on the bill for Naples, really, it only makes sense to add both to our calendars and spend a few weeks in Italy in-between.

Athens Epidaurus Festival

Athens, Greece

Line-up: Christina Vantzou, Ryoji Ikeda, Carmen Villain

28 May-30 August

Turning 70 this year, Athens Epidaurus Festival is hosting a birthday bash for the ages. At the end of May, the summer season will kick off with an opening concert helmed by Arca and Evita Manji, with DJ support from local Porschelane, followed by an afterparty co-presented by NR Magazine and Plural Artist Management. Other highlights include Subset Festival, which will be returning from 4-8 June in co-production with the Athens Conservatoire with a stacked line-up of artists including Ryoji Ikeda, Carmen Villain and a new commission from Christina Vantzou and her collaborators, while an inaugural partnership with Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center will see Berlin-based spatial sound studio MONOM present a range of archive works at the SNFCC Dome. Bringing together the best local music talent with boundary-pushing artists from all over the globe, AEF’s 2025 programme is its most expansive yet, spanning over three months in total of music, theatre and dance across iconic venues.

Nuits sonores

Lyon, France

Line-up: CCL, Helena Hauff b2b DJ MELL G

28 -1 June

The annual pilgrimage for electronic music fans that excels itself every year. En route to its reconfigured industrial home in Lyon this year are techno and synth pioneers Jeff Mills and Suzanne Ciani, and a wide-roaming roster of genre-defilers that includes Artificial Intelligence OG Speedy J, Helena Hauff, Alice Glass, FÖLLAKZOID, CCL, KI/KI and so many more. All of that noise will be accompanied by four days of free-to-attend workshops and talks exploring a range of techno-political issues. Mark Fisher would almost certainly approve.

Supersonic Block Party

Paris, France

Line-up: Dreamwave, L'orn

29-31 May

The third edition of this Parisian indie rock and pop weekender sees it expanding its reach to take over the concert halls and indie shops of the Bastille district – including the iconic Supersonic club where it all started. With a programme brimming with emerging talent from all over the world – including London’s Honeyglaze, Bristol’s Adult Leisure, Oslo’s Pom Poko, Istanbul’s Scattered Ashes and Montréal’s Sorry Girls – and a bunch of free events to encourage venue-hopping, you might discover more than you bargained for.

FIBER Festival

Amsterdam

Jenny Hval, Pinch, Slikback

29 May–1 June

Amsterdam’s FIBER festival returns with a heady mix of experimental A/V, electronic sounds, and immersive performances. Unfolding over four days in nine locations across the city, the line-up intrigues anyone who is digitally and sonically curious – think DJ sets from Slikback, Ojoo and Pinch, as well as a selection of live shows from 2k88, Hysteria Love Temple and Jenny Hval. Focusing on warping the relationship between technology, nature, human, and machine through its theme of wildness, FIBER is shaping up to be a mind-bending four day trip through speculative futures, thought-provoking workshops, and deep listening club nights.

LIDO

Victoria Park, London

Line-up: Charli xcx, 070 Shake, Arca, Turnstile, Massive Attack

7-28 June

From the organisers of All Points East comes this artist-curated humdinger that turns each day of its two-weekend run into an encapsulation of its headliners’ worlds. Massive Attack bring their acclaimed, battery-powered live show, with support from Air, Tirzah, and Yasiin Bey and the Alchemist. Charli xcx reanimates Brat Summer with a supporting cast of collaborators and kindred spirits. Jamie xx leads a day stacked with ambitious, club-adjacent acts. And Outbreak brings its DIY punk throwdown to the south. We’re spoilt for choice.

OffSónar

Barcelona, Spain

Line-up: Rüfüs Du Sol, FUSE takeover, &ME

10-15 June

In which Sónar hands the curatorial reins to a legion of guest artists, labels and promoters for this annual spin-off series at Barcelona’s open-air museum, Poble Espanyol. Bringing a maximalist mindset to the Med this year are Australia’s Grammy-winning electronic trio Rüfüs Du Sol, Swiss audio-visual masters Adriatique, UK house and techno label Solid Grooves, and Adam Port and &ME from Berlin’s beloved club collective Keinemusik. As usual, EDM hedonists Elrow will close out proceedings with one of their mind-mangling spectaculars.

Little Simz’ Meltdown

Southbank Centre, London

Line-up: Ghetts, The Streets, Little Simz & Chineke! Orchestra

12-22 June

Doing what they’ve done best for 30 years, Meltdown returns to London for another edition of its artist-curated festival. Little Simz takes the reins for 2025, curating a line-up spanning grime, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and soul. Shaping up nicely, Simz invites Mike Skinner’s The Streets to the party as well as Ghetts, Jon Batiste, Yukimi, Sasha Keable and more. The final day will see a one-off performance from Simz herself alongside Southbank Centre resident orchestra Chineke! Orchestra. We look forward to seeing what else she has in store.

Parklife

Heaton Park, Manchester

Line-up: Charli xcx, Joy Orbison, Confidence Man

14-15 June

Fifteen years old this year, Manchester’s Parklife festival has existed for almost as long as many of its most enthusiastic attendees have been alive. In that time, it has earned itself a reputation as a festival-goers’ rite of passage thanks to line-ups that hit as big as any summer blockbuster out there. This year’s bucket-list of acts includes hip-hop tough guy 50 Cent, the Bratty one, pop-queen-in-waiting Lola Young and a list of big, beaty dance acts longer than the line for the Metrolink home.

MEO Kalorama

Lisbon, Portugal

Line-up: FKA twigs, Model/Actriz, Boy Harsher

June 19-21

Returning to Lisbon’s Parque de Bela Vista, MEO Kalorama is back for its fourth year with a line-up that’s looking like its biggest yet. Spanning from avant-pop and leftfield electronics to cult classics, highlights include headliners FKA Twigs, Jorja Smith and Pet Shop Boys, as well as Sevdaliza, Model/Actriz and Boy Harsher. To supplement all this, the electronic-focused Panorama Lisboa stage returns with a generous offering featuring Helena Hauff, Kelly Lee Owens and more.

Solstice Festival

Ruka, Finland

Line-up: Darwin, upsammy, CCL b2b Simo Cell

19-21 June

Held every year in Northern Finland’s Ruka during summer solstice – a weekend where the sun doesn’t set at all – Solstice Festival feels like an extended daydream. As ever, this year’s programme centres art and nature, exploring the theme of Landscape: The imprint of nature and humanity through a series of art installations, workshops, hiking trails, and other outdoor activities. Musically, highlights include upsammy, Darwin, Pariah, Jane Fitz, Priori, Laurel Halo, CCL b2b Simo Cell and many more. Dance, swim, hike, or meditate your way into the summer solstice – just make sure to enjoy the view.

Wild Wood

Cambridgeshire, UK

Line-up: Midland, Dr. Banana, Tia Cousins

20-23 June

The crew behind Wild Wood Festival do exactly what they promise to do: put on a good party. Nestled into the Cambridgshire woodland with less than 2000 guests in attendance, this independent festival has a truly intimate feel, powered by a close-knit community that keep the energy high year-on-year. But don’t confuse its smaller size for a compromise on the line-up – this year’s programme features the likes of Midland and Lukas Wigflex, and will take place across four stages (some of which are built from the forest floor itself). With secret venues and surprises planned for the weekend, this is one to turn off your phone for, dance under the trees, and embrace the unexpected.

Bristol Sounds

Bristol

Line-up: Supergrass, Texas

25-29 June

If you hadn’t already noticed, Britpop is back! Back! BACK!! Oasis. Pulp. Gene. Rialto. They’ve all returned to work – and the list keeps growing. Following this trend, Bristol Sounds’ annual takeover of Canons Marsh Amphitheatre is encouraging us to dust down our retro trackie tops for a 30th-anniversary celebration of Supergrass’ Britpop high-watermark, I Should Coco. Following their curtain-raising set of chipper-yet-uncanny bangers are gigs by Texas, an all-dayer featuring Sleeper, Cast and Stereo MCs, and Britpop revivalists Kaiser Chiefs.

Velvet Festival

Island Krk, Croatia

Line-up: Sega Bodega, Mount Kimbie, Hunee

25–29 June

After ten years of fun, this five-day party in the idyllic seaside town of Punat is bowing out in style. Across four stages and myriad boat parties, you’ll find a spot-on mix of leftfield live acts and DJs. Repping the former are post-dubsteppers turned gauzy post-rockers Mount Kimbie, Shygirl collaborator Sega Bodega and the Velvet Underground-influenced Okay Kaya, while Rosa Pistola, Hunee, Suze Ijó and Rush Hour founder Antal are among those deploying a wide range of BPM. What a way to say goodbye.

Open'er Festival

Gdynia-Kosakowo Airfield, Poland

Line-up: Nine Inch Nails, Arca, Brutalismus 3000

2-5 July

A festival line-up that hits like a firehose of styles – in the most refreshing way imaginable. The long-running Polish festival has a rep for serving up a bit of everything, and this year’s edition does nothing to harm that. Invited to shake its airfield home to the core are industrial rock gods Nine Inch Nails, Arca and Live From Earth’s hardstyle-gabba-punk heroes Brutalismus 3000, while main-character pop girlies Camila Cabello, Doechii, FKA twigs and Gracie Abrams go up against hip-hop heavyweights Future, BigXthaPlug, Little Simz and Schoolboy Q.

Monheim Triennale

Monheim am Rhein, Germany

Line-up: Terre Thaemlitz, Oren Ambarchi, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Darius Jones

2-6 July

Monheim Triennale’s current cohort of 16 experimental artists conclude their three-year journey with the event. It all started in 2023 with The Sound art exhibition and continued with last year’s The Prequel – a workshop edition that saw the likes of avant-guitar whiz Oren Ambarchi, smallpipes player Brìghde Chaimbeul, ambient- jazz artist Ganavya, Palestinian rapper Muqata’a and Terre Thaemlitz working out the solo and collaborative performances they will deliver at this year’s edition, The Festival. Expect an array of convention- breaking live formats, spanning improvised and composed music.

Manchester International Festival

Aviva Studios, across Machester and beyond

Blackhaine, Everything Is Recorded, Lex Amor

3-20 Jul 2025

From a series of immersive art installations and sound performances to a reimagining of Christopher Isherwood’s A Single Man as a ballet set to live music by John Grant, this year’s MIF promises to expand your horizons. Or, as the festival puts it, to help you Dream Differently. Richard Russell will bring his Everything Is Recorded project to the stage for an in-the-round meditation on impermanence and grief, while Sounds From the Other City celebrate 20 years with a takeover featuring Wu Lyf, Lex Amor and Afrodeutsche b2b JD Twitch.

Kappa FuturFestival

Turin, Italy

Line-up: Floating Points, Donato Dozzy, Helena Hauff

4-6 July

Returning to the spectacular concrete brutalism of Turin’s Parco Dora, KappaFutur is back for its 12th edition with another techno-heavy dance programme under the Italian summer sun. Heavy hitters like Donato Dozzy, Lena Wilikens, Speedy J, Surgeon, DVS1 and Mathew Jonson dominate the line-up, alongside CCL, Floating Points, and b2b sets from DJ Stingray 313 & Helena Hauff, Francesca Del Garda & Ben UFO, and Eris Drew & Octo Octa – all guaranteed formulas for turntable wizardry.

Mad Cool

Madrid, Spain

Line-up: Geordie Greep, Nine Inch Nails, Chloé Caillet

10-13 July

Big names, big crowds, and a couple of left field curveballs – Mad Cool’s 2025 programme maintains its signature blend of cult favourites and chart-topping global superstars. Headliners include number of bucket-list acts including Nine Inch Nails, Iggy Pop and Olivia Rodrigo, with buzzy artists like Geordie Greep and Chloé Caillet also on the bill. To top it all off, on Sunday this year, the festival is teaming up with Brunch Electronik for a dance music-focused final celebration.

POHODA Festival

Trenčín Airport, Slovakia

Line-up: Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., Kamasi Washington

10-12 July

Transforming a former military base into a hub for the sonically curious for almost three decades, POHODA is Slovakia’s largest multi-genre open-air festival. As ever, the festivals 29th edition programme focuses on the cross-section between music, art, and activism, offering panel discussions and literary readings alongside its eclectic line-up. With the sounds of Massive Attack, JPEGMAFIA, Iggy Pop, Fontaines D.C., VTSS, Magdalena Bay and more set to echo from its aircraft hangars this year, this is a space where a blaring industrial techno set from an up-and-comer, a live show from a rock icon, and a poetry reading all feel equally essential.

Noisily Festival of Music & Arts

Barkestone Wood, Leicestershire

Line-up: DJ Storm, Goldie

10-13 July

Nestled in the vibrant Leicestershire woodland, this four-day gathering is equal parts psychedelic rave, woodland hideaway, and wellness retreat. Think big room techno from Alan Fitzpatrick on the Noisily Stage, a lesson in rave culture from DJ Storm on the bass-driven Treehouse Stage, or a journey through the festival’s psychedelic trance roots on the Liquid Stage. But its Noisily’s holistic ethos that truly sets it apart. Prioritising freedom of expression, connection and personal growth, its Mind, Body & Soul space offers talks, classes, yoga, meditation and a range of holistic therapies. More intimate than most but with just as much attention to production and a commitment to leaving the woods better than they found it, this is a festival that stays true to its community, mission statement and roots.

Stone Techno

Essen, Germany

Line-up: Objekt, CCL, Helena Hauff

11-13 July

Bigger and better with each coming year, Stone Techno returns with a 75-artist programme set to take place on a dramatic post-industrial UNESCO World Heritage site, Zollverein in Essen. With its intimate dancefloors and cinematic stage design backdrop, the multidisciplinary festival has conjured up some of dance music’s major players for its fourth edition, including Objekt, CCL, Josey Rebelle, DJ Nobu, Helena Hauff, Priori, and DVS1.

Gaswerk Music Days

Gaswerksiedlung Berlin

Line-up: HHY & The Kampala Unit, Shackleton, Andrea Belfi & Nazanin Noori

12-19 July

Part festival, part experimental laboratory, Gaswerk Music Days transforms the industrial gardens and warehouse spaces of Berlin’s gART.n open-air venue into the city’s annual deep dive into radical live sound. Spanning the weekends of 12 and 19 July, this year the Gaswerksiedlung-curated festival places a spotlight on artists connected to the Nyege Nyege collective, alongside a wide range of DJ sets, improvised performances and live jams. The full programme features shows from Arsenal Mikebe, HHY & The Kampala Unit, Awesome Tapes From Africa, Andrea Belfi & Nazanin Noori, Shackleton, and many more.

Nowadaze

Yate, Bristol

Line-up: Buunshin, Camoufly, Yemz

17-20 July

Once a mates-only affair, this three-day knees-up just a stone’s throw from Bristol has been welcoming the rest of us since 2023 – and for that, we should all be thankful. There aren’t many events that nail the friendly, local vibe with such aplomb, or with so many big-hitter DJs and performers onboard. Among those instigating dancefloor bedlam this year are the balaclava-clad Camoufly, with his frenetic mix of Latin rave, hyperpop and trap; UKG, funky and jungle manipulator, Yemz; and bass slingers Buunshin and Lily Huu. Good vibes are guaranteed.

SOUNDIT

Parc Nou de El Prat de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

Line-up: Shackleton, Verraco, CCL

18-19 July

With a decade of party-throwing under their belt, Barcelona’s SOUNDIT crew are expanding their operation. This debut festival, in a leafy park a short metro ride from the city centre, promises impeccable sound design and a line-up worth circling in red pen before you arrive because it’s absolutely stacked. Live highlights include headsy techno maker Polygonia, Medellín’s perreo-bass wiz Verraco and maverick electronic voyager Shackleton, while Jeff Mills, Goldie b2b Special Request, DjRUM b2b Upsammy, Avalon Amerson and CCL bend time and space from behind the decks.

Paléo

Nyon, Switzerland

Line-up: HiTech, Lambrini Girls, Moonchild Sanelly

22-27 July

From a tiny folk gig in a town hall has grown this five-day arts spectacle on the banks of Lake Geneva. It’s had a rep for blockbuster bookings since the 1990s and this year’s line-up has plenty of eyebrow-raisers too: Will Smith! Sex Pistols! David Guetta! Headline-grabbers aside, it’s a dizzyingly diverse affair taking in Queens of the Stone Age, ghetto-tech marauders HiTech, dancehall queen Bamby, Lambrini Girls, and an area dedicated to the sounds of the Maghreb – tuareg, raï, gnawa, chaabi and amazigh. The food looks banging, too.

Polifonic Puglia

Valle d'Itria, Italy

Line-up: Batu, Chaos in the CBD

23-27 July

The Polifonic crew are spoiling us. Not only have they added an additional stage to accommodate this year’s doozy of a line-up, but they’ve also tacked on an extra night of dusk-till-dawn raving. Paying a visit to this stunning, sun-dappled location on the Med, where the sea glints invitingly in the near distance, are house and techno pioneers including Laurent Garnier, Honey Dijon and Jimi Tenor, plus modern-day club explorers Batu, Chaos in the CBD, Mogwaa, Moxie, Octo Octa and Shanti Celeste.

Junction 2

Boston Park Manor, London

Line-up: Héctor Oaks, Helena Hauff, Mount Kimbie

25-27 July

A mainstay in the UK’s forward-thinking dance calendar, every year Junction 2 turns Boston Manor Park into a three-day celebration of club culture. Set amongst West London’s wooded terrain and under the industrial M4 flyover bridge, the festival offers up a taste of everything on the electronic spectrum, from Mount Kimbie live to DVS1, Héctor Oaks, Helena Hauff and DJ Koze.

Ortigia Music

Ortigia, Sicily

Line-up: Erika de Casier, Modeselektor, Max Cooper

31 July-1 August

Following the 2025 acquisition of the Ortigia Sound brand, Ortigia Music Festival marks a new era for one of Europe’s most distinctive boutique events. Under fresh creative direction and with support from local authorities, the festival returns with a renewed focus on sustainability and community. This year’s edition features performances from Max Cooper (Live), Modeselektor, Erika de Casier (Live), and many more, set across beaches, boats, and historic venues in the heart of Ortigia’s old town.

Hard Summer

Hollywood Park, Los Angeles

Line-up: Kaytranada, Fcukers, KI/KI b2b DJ Gigola

2-3 August

A dance music blockbuster if ever there was one. EDM overlords HARD have been putting on summer showstoppers since 2008, and know exactly what makes for a spectacle. Bringing big-room pizzazz and a barrage of vertiginous drops to Los Angeles’ Hollywood Park is a stacked line-up of house- and techno-leaning acts, including The Blessed Madonna, Kaytranada, Four Tet, KI/KI b2b DJ Gigola, and trance don Marlon Hoffstadt. Colombian singer Feid, Flipmode leader Busta Rhymes and sleaze-dance duo Fcukers throw their own live madness into the frenzy.

Neopop

Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Line-up: ZenGxrl, Goldie, Aurora Halal

7-9 August

Neopop once again plugs the sleepy port city of Viana do Castelo, in Portugal’s far north, directly into the rave continuum. The 18th edition of this techno-specific weekender is themed ‘Interplanetary Dance Music’, and its cosmic potential will be unleashed by a long list of DJs running the gamut from Sustain-Release founder Aurora Halal, Charlotte de Witte and Jeff Mills to ZenGxrl’s Batida-infused slammers, Richie Hawtin and a techno special from none other than Goldie. DubLab’s brain-mashing visuals will ensure a far-out experience.

South Facing

Crystal Palace Bowl, London

Line-up: Skepta, Central Cee, Lankum

7-24 August

The highlight of this month of all-dayers is undoubtedly Skepta’s two-day shutdown. The OG grime don brings his Big Smoke festival to the Bowl, with plenty of reasons to hit up both days. The first centres on live performances from Skepta and Central Cee, a link-up between Boy Better Know’s JME and Frisco, plus Chy Cartier and BXKS. The next is a day of dance shaped by Skepta’s Más Tiempo label, featuring Maceo Plex, Jammer and underground stalwarts Djammin b2b Ossie. Elsewhere, Mogwai and Lankum bring gloom-cloaked thrills.

Brunch Electronik

Barcelona, Spain

Line-up: Anetha, Sofia Kourtesis, Marlon Hoffstadt

8-10 August

More daytime antics courtesy of the Barca party people, who turned their sunny afternoon gatherings into a fully fledged festival back in 2023. Riding into the sunset with them this year is a heady crew of DJs including Switzerland’s double-Adrian globetrotters Adriatique, Berlin techno champs FJAAK, the ever-dependable DJ Tennis, Anetha, Jungle, Sofia Kourtesis, Suze Ijó and trance daddy Marlon Hoffstadt. Making us sway with their sun-dappled live offerings are Maribou State, cosmic-folk polymath Helado Negro and Monolink. Pack your glitziest sunnies.

Flow

Helsinki, Finland

Line-up: Charli xcx, FKA twigs, Fontaines D.C.

8-10 August

Nothing in life is certain – apart from soggy bank holidays and Flow delivering a killer lineup spanning every genre imaginable. This year, it plays host to boundary-trashing juggernauts Charli xcx and FKA twigs, and a none-too-shabby supporting bill including Little Simz, Autechre and Fontaines D.C. But Flow isn’t just about headliners; there’s a stage for homegrown and international experimentalists (Ganavya, Passepartout Duo), another focusing on global rhythms (Hermeto Pascoal, Jeff Mills, Oby Onyioha) and a cor-inducing dance stage featuring Batu, CC:Disco, Verraco and TSHA. Proper.

We Out Here

Wimborne St Giles, Dorset

Line-up: Ben UFO, Pa Salieu, Nala Sinephro, Theo Parrish

14-17 August

Another four-day marathon of exploratory soul, hip-hop, electronica, jazz and outernational sounds in deepest Dorset from Gilles Peterson and co. As usual, the line-up is packed with both pioneers – UK funk band Incognito, Brazilian avant-jazzer Hermeto Pascoal, highlife legends Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou and a strand celebrating 40 years of the Bristol Sound – and present-day trailblazers, including Chicago’s razor-sharp rapper Noname, cosmic synth explorer Nala Sinephro and conjurors of percussive magic, Nídia & Valentina. And we haven’t even mentioned the DJ line-up…

XRDS

Vijverspark, Anderlecht

Line-up: MCR-T, Skee Mask, Donato Dozzy & Neel

15-16 August

With curation from Belgium’s long-running Fuse club, XRDS returns with the assent of techno royalty. More than 50 artists – running the stylistic gamut from leftfield house and techno to breaks and beyond – will bring their singular takes on dancefloor hypnotism to the lush Parc des Étangs / Vijverspark, nestled beneath Brussels’ busiest overpasses, for this two-day gathering. Cutting through the hubbub above are standout operators MCR-T, Skee Mask, Djrum and dBridge, while Donato Dozzy and Neel perform their game-changing 2013 ambient-techno project +Voices From the Lake+.

Field Maneuvers

Norfolk, UK

Line-up: Midland, ISAbella, Angel D'Lite

15-17 August

Don’t call it a comeback. After saying goodbye last summer, Field Maneuvers has done a U-turn and decided to stick around for a while longer. Which is good news indeed for fans of underground dance music. Championing the sounds and artists that matter, this intimate weekender in a field somewhere in Norfolk is letting Midland, Kode9, aya, ISAbella, Parris, Angel D’Lite, Raf Reza and many more loose on the best sound systems you’ll hear outdoors this summer. There’s also a pub with a dartboard.

All Points East

Victoria Park, London

Line-up: Doechii, Shygirl, Tyla

15-30 August

Chase and Status get this quartet of all-dayers off to a screamer, with a Return II Dance takeover that skews bass-heavy, jungle and dancehall. They’re joined by Nia Archives, Overmono and a grab-bag of b2b fire, including Sherelle with Clipz, and chart-breaching man-of-the-moment Sully with Coco Bryce, Dwarde and Tim Reaper. Elsewhere, Raye tops a bill featuring Doechii and Jade; Barry Can’t Swim brings the grins with Confidence Man and Shygirl; and The Maccabees return in style, with angular support from Dry Cleaning, The Cribs and more.

MUTEK Montréal

Quartier des Spectacles, Montréal

Line-up: Upsammy & Valentina Magaletti, Loidis, Wacław Zimpel & James Holden

19-25 August

After 25 years of championing innovation in creative and digital arts, this year Mutek grasps the nettle of new and emerging realities by launching a fresh cycle of exploration. Electronic music’s brightest will converge across venues in Montréal’s Quartier des Spectacles, including dub-techno reinventor Loidis, Sustain-Release founder Aurora Halal, Polish experimentalist Wacław Zimpel (performing with both James Holden and Shackleton), Kevin Saunderson with his e-Dancer project, Valentina Magaletti and Max Cooper, with a brand-new immersive performance. The deep thinking continues at the three-day Mutek Forum.

Shambala

Secret Country Estate, Northamptonshire

Line-up: Asian Dub Foundation, Gallegos, Moonchild Sanelly

21-24 August

Shambala is going big for its 25th anniversary with a four-day celebration of music, creativity and community. Returning to the rolling Northamptonshire countryside, this year’s expansive programme includes live performances, DJ sets, masterclasses, spoken word and much more, with Shambala’s fiercely independent spirit and commitment to sustainability shining through throughout. As for the music, the line-up stretches from Moonchild Sanelly to Asian Dub Foundation to Gallegos, offering something for everyone within its curated chaos.

Rally

Southwark Park, London

Line-up: Floating Points, Ben UFO, CASISDEAD, Geordie Greep

23 August

Back for its third iteration, Rally continues to carve out a space where radical thought, experimental sound and community-led energy meet in full force. Once again, this year’s programme, co-curated by NTS, GALA and Bird On Wire, brings together boundary-pushing live acts and underground icons. Expect a blissed-out live set from Floating Points, avant-rock from Geordie Greep, and everything in between with sets from the likes of Ben UFO, Sophie McAlister, OK Williams, Faouzia, Moin, and Astrid Sonne.

Palomosa Festival

Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montréal

Line-up: Mechatok, MCR-T, Arca, Marie Davidson

4-6 September

Palamosa returns to Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau for the second year in a row this September, bringing an eclectic mix of pop, rap and electronic party starters to the city’s lush, river islands. This year’s line-up castaways include headliners M.I.A and former Crack cover star Arca as well as thumping American duo Fcukers, experimental pop producer Mechatok and tops-off-energy enthusiast Yousuke Yukimatsu. A good old fashioned block party kicks off day one proceedings courtesy of Zack Fox and local legend Tallandskinny.

Get On Festival

Great Fulford, Exeter

Line-up: Lukas Wigflex, Dr Banana, Mia Koden

5-7 September

Get On Festival returns to Great Fulford this September for its third edition, offering three days and nights of music, food, and community on a picturesque estate just outside Exeter. With more than 75 artists on the lineup, the programme features scene-shapers like Dr Banana, Lukas Wigflex and Mia Koden, alongside a wealth of rising talent. Beyond the dancefloors, the festival features creative stage design, a swimming lake, and a dedicated wellness area for recharging between sessions.

WOS Festival

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Line-up: Lord Spikeheart, Batu, Objekt

11-14 September

Recharged after a year away, WOS returns to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Santiago de Compostela for another masterclass in sonic futurism. This year’s line-up is as boundary-blurring as they come, featuring Abdullah Miniawy’s Sufi-inspired free jazz, experimental electronics queen Beatrice Dillon and time-warping DJ Batu. Most exciting of all, though, is the presence of Bolivian-American duo Los Thuthanaka, who reimagine Andean music through psychedelia, noise and Aymara composition, and aya, transforming her monumental +hexed!+ album into an audiovisual spectacle with MFO.

SPATIAL

Funkhaus, Berlin

Line-up: Richie Culver, Aïsha Devi, Loraine James

12-14 September

One for history buffs, audiophiles and fans of experimental electronics. Funkhaus was built in the former GDR in the 1950s as a broadcasting centre with the world’s most on-point acoustics. In keeping with its pioneering past, the space now includes MONOM – a spatial sound studio with a holographic 4DSOUND system. It’s the perfect place for a weekend of listening sessions and live performances from 60 sound-expanding artists including Aïsha Devi, Richie Culver and Loraine James.

Lunchmeat

Trade Fair Palace, Prague

Line-up: Danny L Harle, Colin Self, Whatever the Weather

23-28 September

This Prague festival has been fusing club experimentalism with retina-frying visuals for 15 years now, all while staying true to its mission of making the arts accessible through affordable passes. This year’s programme delivers more of the same, with four specially commissioned audiovisual projects, a new performance by PC Music’s Danny L Harle, a theatrical show titled +Gasp!+ from puppeteer and electronic-pop maverick Colin Self, Loraine James performing in her ambient guise Whatever the Weather, and a brain-rattling set from club deconstructionist Lee Gamble.

MOGA Festival

Essaouira, Morocco

Line-up: Saoirse, Bonobo (DJ), Daniel Bell

1-5 October

With a grey blanket settling over the UK for the next few months, the thought of shimmying away the blues with a crew of top-tier house and techno operators in sunnier climes is nothing if not tempting. Consider this your escape plan. Morocco’s MOGA is back with a stellar line-up – Bonobo (DJ), DJ Sweet6Teen, Saoirse, Daniel Bell and more – taking over the white-walled city of Essaouira for five days of seaside fun worth slapping your out-of-office on for.

Llais

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

Line-up: Cate Le Bon, Beverly Glenn Copeland, Mabe Fratti

6-12 October

This annual festival celebrating the voice also happens to feature some of our very favourite contemporary and legendary women artists. Representing the here and now are Guatemalan cellist and vocalist Mabe Fratti, Carmarthenshire indie icon Cate Le Bon and the extraordinary, experimental laments of County Fermanagh’s Róis. But it’s the Welsh debut of Meredith Monk – pioneer of extended vocal technique and a profound influence on Björk and David Byrne – that really marks the moment.

En Masse

Various locations, Bristol

Line-up: Shackleton, DJ Python, Abdullah Miniawy

9-12 October

Back for a fifth year of noggin-twisting action, this multi-venue festival and champion of Bristol’s contemporary underground scenes returns with another bold line-up of electronic experiments, live performances and collaborative art. Founded by Timedance boss Batu, the 2025 edition casts its net even wider, taking over five much-loved city venues for four nights of precision programming. Alongside the cutting-edge sounds, a series of free workshops, talks, masterclasses and roundtables aim to help shape what comes next.

ROBOT

Bologna, Italy

Line-up: Alessandro Cortini, DJ Haram, Ela Minus

9-11 October

Each autumn, Bologna’s streets, palaces, and warehouses become home to ROBOT Festival — a citywide celebration of electronic culture and digital art. From 27 September to 11 October 2025, the 16th edition unfolds under the theme Dream On, exploring the liberating power of imagination. The programme includes premieres, collaborations and boundary-pushing performances, including Alessandro Cortini’s A/V performance of NATI INFINITI, DJ Haram presenting Beside Myself, and sets from Apparat, Sama’ Abdulhadi, and Acid Arab.

No Bounds

Sheffield

Line-up: Joy Orbison, These New Puritans, Rainy Miller

10-12 October

The South Yorkshire festival returns with a new theme, Grit and Graft, celebrating the region’s heritage as well as the resilience of those operating in inhospitable conditions today – from underground artists to migrants seeking safety. Bringing uncompromising mindsets to venues around Sheffield and Rotherham are Joy Orbison, electro-industrialists Factory Floor and gloom-rockers These New Puritans. Father-and-son locals Mark Fell and Rian Treanor curate a programme featuring RP Boo, Beatrice Dillon and Treanor’s own Gamelan Installation.

Biennale Musica

Venice, Italy

Line-up: William Basinski Abdullah Miniawy, Suzanne Ciani with Actress

11-25 October

The 69th International Festival of Contemporary Music, Biennale Musica 2025, lands in Venice from October 11–25, led by director Caterina Barbieri. This year’s edition, The Star Within, dives into “cosmic music” in all its forms, spanning electronic, drone, techno, minimalism, ancient traditions, and experimental sounds, exploring music as a living organism and a form that’s able to self-evolve. Expect performances from Laurie Spiegel, Suzanne Ciani with Actress, Meredith Monk (Golden Lion), William Basinski, Sunn O))), Chuquimamani-Condori (Silver Lion), Carl Craig, and plenty more.

Einhundert: CODE.SWITCH

Adidas Sports Base, Berlin

Line-up: Lechuga Zafiro, Toumba, Dis Fig

17-19 October

CODE.SWITCH is a free three-day journey into the heart of club culture, centred on the pillars of sound, silence and movement. Each day highlights one of these elements through a dynamic mix of live performances, DJ sets, lectures and listening sessions, with highlights from the likes of Lechuga Zafiro, Toumba, Dis Fig, Dengue Dengue Dengue and many more.

Amsterdam Dance Event

Amsterdam

Blawan, Sandwell District, 10 years of Nyege Nyege

22-26 October

ADE returns this October for a week of events across the city, including panel discussions, talks, sessions, brand activations, exhibitions, live shows, and of course, club nights. From live performances by the likes of Blawan and Sandwell District to a night celebrating the 10th anniversary of Nyege Nyege Tapes, the after-hours programme alone makes this year’s edition a tempting ticket. Add to that access to a wide variety of panel discussions – exploring everything from new tech to accessibility within club culture to the evolution of Brazilian funk – and it’s a no-brainer for anyone serious about dance music.

Semibreve

Braga, Portugal

Line-up: Actress and Suzanne Ciani, aya, µ-Ziq & ID:Mora

23-26 October

As ever, Semibreve’s 2025 programme brings together a bold constellation of innovators across sound, performance and visual arts. Highlights include Actress & Suzanne Ciani’s Concrète Waves, Ava Rasti, who will perform her latest album, The River, alongside a string quartet, and µ-Ziq & ID:Mora, who will perform the former’s 2024 album, Grush. Staged across Braga’s historic venues and contemporary spaces, the festival continues to provide a forward-thinking platform for experimentation, collaboration and immersive live shows, with workshops, talks and more also on the bill. For locals, it’s is a standout on the autumn calendar, and for those considering booking flights to Braga, this year’s line-up is the kind that makes the decision for you.

Mucho Flow

Guimarães, Portugal

Line-up: Nick Léon, YHWH Nailgun, These New Puritans

30 October - 1 November

If 12 years spent championing avant-pop has taught this Portuguese festival one thing, it’s to stick to the same winning formula. And so it goes this year. Returning gloom heroes These New Puritans remind us they’ve always been one step ahead, while art-punk mensches YHWH Nailgun incite confusion and Maria Somerville enchants with her spectral slowcore. Elsewhere, there’s creator of warped IDM Body Meat, alt-rap duo Infinity Knives and Brian Ennals, and cosmic-pop purveyor Noia. Oh, and it all takes place in a gorgeous medieval city – yes, please.

Le Guess Who?

Utrecht, The Netherlands

Line-up: gyrofield, keiyaA, Lonnie Holley and Friends

6-9 November

Returning with a fresh slate of international curators, Utrecht’s festival for curious ears invites outsider artist Lonnie Holley, club experimentalist gyrofield, drummer-composer Valentina Magaletti and Colombian DJ Edna Martinez, among others, to bring their unique perspectives on music and creativity. Standouts from the programme – selected by the curators and the festival itself – include Julianna Barwick with cosmic harpist Mary Lattimore, deployer of ultra-heavy low-end Divide and Dissolve, DJ Haram, Sunn O))), avant-goth trio Tristwch y Fenywod, and Nicolás Jaar in collaboration with Pakistani-American artist Ali Sethi.

Simple Things

Various venues, Bristol

The Bug, Eiko Ishibashi, Nala Sinephro

8 November

Reliably genre-defying and always on point, Bristol’s venue-hopping all-dayer-into-late-nighter returns to its rightful autumnal slot with a bang. Among the scroll-like list of highlights: an afternoon set of ambient jazz magic from Nala Sinephro; a tenth-anniversary celebration of Nyege Nyege Tapes; more wiry, post-punk sprechgesang from Dry Cleaning; experimental composer Eiko Ishibashi; an incendiary blast of bass-weighted dancehall from The Bug with guest MCs; and the return of electro-industrialists Factory Floor. What’s not to love?

Polifonic Milano

Various venues, Milan

Line-up: Richie Hawtin, Or:la

20-23 November

From 20–23 November, Polifonic Milano returns for its fourth edition with the theme City Echoes, taking across multiple Milan venues including Alcatraz, Basic Village, Mogo Hi-Fi, and Triennale. The four-day programme blends live performances, club nights, workshops and talks, with highlights include Richie Hawtin’s exclusive Italian showcase DEX EFX X0X, alongside sets from E/Tape, Flore b2b Piezo, Or:la and John Talabot.

Full Of Lava Festival

Bern, Switzerland

Line-up: Smerz, Marie Davidson, John Glacier

20-23 November

From 20–23 November, Dampfzentrale Bern – a former power station turned cultural hub – hosts Full of Lava, the festival for leftfield and experimental pop. Since 2008 (formerly Saint Ghetto) and rebranded in 2023, it spotlights artists who challenge convention and push pop’s boundaries. This year’s highlights include Danish singer-producer Erika de Casier, Norwegian electronic duo Smerz, experimental group These New Puritans, and former Crack Magazine cover star John Glacier.

Beyond The Valley

Victoria, Australia

Line up: TBA

28 December - 1 January

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Crack Magazine’s Festival Guide 2025

London Short Film Festival

Various locations, London

Programme: Short film screenings and events throughout the city

17-26 January

Bahidorá

Morelos, Mexico

Line-up: Ben UFO, Jeff Mills, Octo Octa b2b Eris Drew

14-16 February

AVA London

Various locations, London

Line-up: Erika de Casier, LSDXOXO, FKA twigs in conversation

20-22 March

Rewire

The Hague, Netherlands

Line-up: Nala Sinephro, Erika de Casier, Arooj Aftab

3-6 April

BRDCST

Brussels, Belgium

Line-up: De Schuurman, Colin Stetson, International Anthem

4-6 April

Sónar Lisboa

Lisbon, Portugal

Line-up: Bitter Babe, Modeselektor, Josh Caffé

11-13 April

Horst

Asiat Park, Vilvoorde, Belgium

CCL & Objekt, gyrofield, Verraco, The Bug

1-3 May

FIGURA presents Seeing In Dreams

HERE at Outernet

Amnesia Scanner, Crystallmess, TAAHLIAH

9-10 May

GALA

Peckham Rye Park, London

Line-up: Avalon Emerson, Ben UFO, Theo Parrish, Anz, Floating Points

23-25 May

Bloc Fest

Naples & Cilento, Italy

Line-up: Vegyn, Deena Abdelwahed, DJ Python

24 May, 20-21 June

Athens Epidaurus Festival

Athens, Greece

Line-up: Christina Vantzou, Ryoji Ikeda, Carmen Villain

28 May-30 August

Nuits sonores

Lyon, France

Line-up: CCL, Helena Hauff b2b DJ MELL G

28 -1 June

Supersonic Block Party

Paris, France

Line-up: Dreamwave, L'orn

29-31 May

FIBER Festival

Amsterdam

Jenny Hval, Pinch, Slikback

29 May–1 June

LIDO

Victoria Park, London

Line-up: Charli xcx, 070 Shake, Arca, Turnstile, Massive Attack

7-28 June

OffSónar

Barcelona, Spain

Line-up: Rüfüs Du Sol, FUSE takeover, &ME

10-15 June

Little Simz’ Meltdown

Southbank Centre, London

Line-up: Ghetts, The Streets, Little Simz & Chineke! Orchestra

12-22 June

Parklife

Heaton Park, Manchester

Line-up: Charli xcx, Joy Orbison, Confidence Man

14-15 June

MEO Kalorama

Lisbon, Portugal

Line-up: FKA twigs, Model/Actriz, Boy Harsher

June 19-21

Solstice Festival

Ruka, Finland